Coin selector for coin controlled machines



March 7, 1944. E. a. WEILER COIN SELECTOR FOR COIN CONTROLLED MACHINESFiled lay 28, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 LAAAJ INVENTOR. Edit 4rd 6.- Wei/er.

ATTORNEY.

March 7, 1944. wElLER 2,343,352

COIN SELECTOR FOR COIN CONTROLLED MACHINES Filed May 28, 1938 sSheets-Sheet 2 INVEN'I'OK lq- 6' Edward ,6. P1421791 BY MM ATTORNEY.

March 7, 1944. E. G. WEILER COIN SELECTOR FOR COIN CONTROLLED MACHINESFiled lay 28, 1938 -muaur 4 I:

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

Edward 6 Wei 1 er vhf AM ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 7, 1944 COIN SELECTOR FOR COIN CONTROLLED MACHINES EdwardG. Weller, Columbus, Ohio Application May 28, 1938, Serial No. 210,692 8Claims. '('Cl.'194102) The invention to be hereinafter disclosed relatesto coin selectors for coin controlled machines.

A great many such selectors are well known, all aiming at the samegeneral result-i. e., reater efficiency in elimination of slugs andobjects other than genuine coins.

The known devices apply, respectively, various separate individualtests, and, frequently, combine two or more such tests. One difiicultyin existing devices having combined tests is the conflict of tests,resulting in one test offsetting or counteracting another test. Anotherditli-,

culty is the proper order or sequence of tests. To have greatestefficiency, the sequence must be such that the coin, etc., leaving anyone test will not have any characteristics which can inare retained inthe machine.

Th main objects of the present invention are to provide a simple,efflcient, compact coin selector of inexpensive manufacture andthoroughly exhaustive in its coin selection tests, eliminating themaximum of spurious and imperfect coins and slugs.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the invention in operative position, onlythe front plate, in edge view, of a vending machine, being shown, withslug chute in dotted lines; I

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation opposite to Fig. 1;

Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 are cross sections on lines 4-6, -5---5, 66 and 'l-lrespectively, of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figs. 8 and 9 are cross sections on lines 88, and 9-4! respectively ofFig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 10 is an elevation of the lever and cam mechanism, looking in thedirection of the arrow in Fig. 3, with spring connection omitted;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view, enlarged,.of the upper part of the deviceshown in Fig. 2, taken at an angle from the right, omitting the platesl, 9 and 28 and showing the merging of incline l4 and channel 4; and

Fig. 12 is an enlarged top plan view of the upper part of Fig. 2corresponding to that shown in Fig. 11.

For clearness and simplicity, the drawings illustrate a, machine havingone main coin runway, only and that, devised for a. five cent piece orcoin in standard United States currency. The invention is readilyapplicable to a plurality of such five cent piece coin runways or chutesin a single machine, as will be obvious. Also, it is readily applicableto coin runways or chutes for coins of various other denominations, andto a plurality of runways or chutes, in a single machine, some or allrunways being for coins of denominations different from all or some ofthe other runways or chutes.

Broadly, the invention functions to eliminate, successively, coins ofexcessive diameter, excessive thickness, appreciably deficient diameter,appreciably deficient thickness, small irregular bodies bothnon-magnetic and magnetic, coins of excessive weight, coins of excessivesoftness, coins of deficient weight, perforated coins, coins havingother than normal electrical conductivity, and coins having other thannormal resiliency or hardness and rebound properties. The aboveeliminations leave only coins having all of the properties andrequirements of genuine coins, physically considered.

Throughout the following description a selector having a single coinrunway or chute, and constructed for United States nickels, or fivecentpieces in U. S. currency, will be referred to.

Preferably, the selector is mounted upon and carried on one or anotherof the usual encasing walls, sides or frame members I, of the machine.

At a suitable place in the upper part of this wall is securely fastened,in any usual and well known manner, a throat piece 2, of suitablematerial. Preferably, it is removably secured. This throat piece isprovided with a bore 3 extending completely through it, in the directionof its thickness, from front to rear. This bore is, throughout, of theexact diameter of the coin for which the selector is adapted, in thisinstance, for a nickel in U. S. currency. And, of course, the

wall or plate I in line with the throat opening 3 is correspondingly cutout. A simple and economical method of manufacture of the throat piece 2is by casting, though it is to be clearly understood that it maybe'produced in any other practical and acceptable manner. Preferably,bore 3 extends completely through throat piece 2, from front to back.The inclined surfaces ll, I4 and I9, shown in Fig. 11, are formed as apart of the casting of the throat piece.

Extending downwardly beginning in a. plane perpendicular to the axis ofbore 3 and communicating at its upper end with the rear end of bore 3throughout its width is a channel 4, Figs. 2 and 4, slightly inclinededgewise and having width and depth equal to the diameter and thickness,respectively. of a genuine U. S. nickel. The side walls and 6 of theupper part of channel 4 are preferably formed integrally as a part ofthroat piece 2 and the rear wall is formed by a cap plate 9 which ispreferably a flat plate of outline and measurements to lie parallel toand slightly spaced rearwardly from front plate I, on walls 5 and 6 andon the wall around the bore 3 and at it lower end the cap plate 9 iscurved inwardly aw y from front plate I to accommodate a curvein,channel 4, as explained later, and is removably secured by screws orthe like as will be clear on reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings.

The side walls 5 and 6 of channel 4 are abrupt and of a height equal tothe thickness of a nickel so that as the nickel passes through bore 3,it will exactly aline with the upper end of channel 4 into which it willpass by gravity. Since the beginning of channel 4 is at an angle, i. e.,edgewise downwardly inclined, the nickel gravitates on to the lower sidewall 5 along which it will roll. Along the opposite wall 6 extends anarrow supporting shelf or surface 1. That part of the channel 4 lyingbetween walls 5 and 6 is of the same width from end to end, i. e., equalto the diameter of a nickel. The walls 5 and 5 merge into the wall ofbore 3 at diametrically opposite points and with undiminished height,the lower wall of bore 3 between these points of merger being cut awayto a depth equal to the thickness of a nickel, leaving a narrow bridge 8extending from wall 5 to wall 6 and around'the lower side of bore 3.Bridge 8, shelf I, and the bottom of each side wall 5 and 6, are thethickness of a nickel below the tops of walls 5 and 8 and below theinner face of cap plate 9, forming the channel 4, as shown in Fig. 4.Consequently, a genuine U. S. nickel inserted through the bore 3 willenter the shallow channel 4 between bridge 8 and cap plate 9 and rollalong wall 5, while being guided and supported at its opposite side bythe surface 1.

At about the ends of walls 5 and 5, which ends are in approximately thesame horizontal plane, the nickel is caused to abruptly change itsdirection. The whole channel 4 is curved inwardly away from supportingplate I and the part below this curve is also edgewise downwardlyinclined at an angle opposite to that of the upper part of the channel.Thus, the junction of the upper and lower parts of channel 4 form anelbow, the center of the elbow being approximately alined with the lowerends of walls 5 and 6, the shape of the elbow being such as to provideboth an edgewise and a lateral bend or curve in the channel 4. The depthof the curved portion of the channel 4 is somewhat greater than thethickness of a nickel to permit the nickel to be deflected in thechannel without binding. That part of the coin passageway below theelbow which is referred to herein as the lower branch of channel 4,consists essentially of guiding surfaces I I, I4 and I9 and. the edge ofa magnet I2, Fig. 11, which guide and support the coin principally atits opposite edges and being laterally inclined, is not necessarilyprovided with an upper wall throughout its full length. It is to beunderstood that the path followed by a genuine nickel down to the lowerend of surface l9, Fig. 2, is to be considered a continuation of channel4. Theuppermost edge of the lower branch of channel 4 is indicated inFigs. 11 and 12, its opposite edge at-this point being the V-channel I3,channel 4 at this point not being provided with an upper plate or cover.

Wall III is a continuation of, but at an angle to wall 5, and for ashort distance, serves as the upper edge of the lower branch of channel4. The shelf or surface 1, which at its upper end is parallel to thefront plate I, is at its lower end. curved rearwardly away from thefront plate I and merges into the flat surface I I. The surface II inturn merges into the surface I9, the lower part of which is curved, asshown in Fig. 11.

Because of the angular disposition of walls 5 and 6, the horizontaldistance between their ends at the approximate center of the elbow isgreater than the shortest distance between the walls 5 and 6 and,therefore, greater than the diameter of a nickel. At this point, wherethe nickel is caused to change its direction both edgewise andlaterally, the floor or surface I is correspondingly broadened so thatit will continue to support the nickel, and merges into the surface II.The bottom of the channel 4 for a distance above and below the bend inchannel 4 is dished. gouged or depressed to form a depression 4', Figs.2 and 11, which merges with the uppermost end of an inclined surface I4,extends along the bottom of wall III, said depression in the floor ofchannel 4 beginning with zero depression along th bottom of wall Ill andbeing deepest along the edges of surfaces I and- II, and is completelycutthrough at its lowermost end forming an opening I8 for the ejectionof certain slugs, as explained later.

The edge of the surfaces I along the depresed portion 4 of the floor ofthe channel 4 is spaced from wall 5, a distance somewhat less than thediameter of a nickel, and merges into the edge of surface II to formapproximately an arc with its center at the junction of walls 5 and III,the edge of surface II that is opposite wall I0 being spaced therefrom adistance slightly greater than the distance between wall 5 and the edgeof floor I, but slightly less than the diameter of a nickel. Thisgradually increasing distance between the edges of surfaces I and II andthe opposite wall is provided so that a coin or other object that is toosmall to extend from wall 5 to the edge of floor 1 or the edge ofsurface II will, aided by its momentum and the abrupt change indirection at this'point, drop into the depressed portion 4' of the coinchannel and be ejected through an opening I 8 at the bottom of thedepressed portion 4' of the coin channel without any possibility ofbecoming stuck in the coin channel. In order to prevent any possibilityof coins binding or lodging at the point where slightly undersize coinsare separated from genuine coins, wall It! merges into an inclinedsurface I 4 and then resumes again as an edge along the surface I4, asshown in Fig. 11,

so that when one edge of a coin that is only slightly undersize dropsinto the depressed portion 4' of the coin channel, it will, at the pointof separation for coins of this size, be supported at its opposite edgeby the inclined surface l4 free of any contact with the wall ID. Thiswill prevent any possibility of such a coin becoming stuck between walll0 and the edge of surface II and the coin will be carried by gravitydeeper into the depressed portion 4' of the coin channel and be ejectedthrough the opening II in the bottom of this channel. Objectsappreciably smaller than a genuine nickel will be carried channel l3 tothe wall II is very slightly less freely by gravity aided by theirmomentum alone the depression 4' in the channel and be ejected throughthe opening l8.

Along the surface ll, leading downwardly from the end of wall 6. withits lower branch approximately parallel to the upper part of wall l'l,and spaced from said wall III a distance approximately equal to thediameter of a nickel, is mounted a horseshoe type permanent magnet l2.It is supported in position by a small bracket l5 secured to the surfaceII. This magnet performs several functions, including that of magneticseparation. It acts as a stop, limit or .guide wall in the same way aswalls 5 and 6 act. As the nickel leaves wall 6 and shelf Lit engages,gravitates along and is supported b the near branch of magnet 12together with the continuation of shelf 1, which constitutes the surfacell. Magnet I2 is mounted at a sharp incline, relative to surface ll, sothat its lowerbranch and the surface ll provide a narrow V-shapedchannel l3. This V-channel serves as the lowermost edge of a portion ofthe coin channel 4' below the elbow.

,Assume that there is a coin with its edge overlapping and resting uponthe surface ll. As it travels downwardly along the V-shaped channel l3from the end of wall 6 toward the end of the magnet l2, its edge willengage the branch of the magnet which will limit the depth to which itwill sink into the V-channel. Thus, a nickel of standard thickness willsink to a predetermined distance into V-channel I 3, while one of lessthan standard thickness would sink to a correspondingly greater depth.In assembling, the magnet is so mounted that a nickel of standarddiameter and thickness will extend from its seat in V-channel l3 exactlyto the base of wall Ill where it joins wall 5. Wall ill continues fromthe end of wall 5 and merges into the inclined surface I d, Fig. 11.

From the point where the upper end of curved incline I l merges into thedepressed bottom 4' of channel 4, the surface of incline I4 widens andalso rises relative to the plane of surface 19 down to a' pointapproximately opposite the lower end of the magnet l2 and from thatpoint it flattens out and merges with the surface IS. The curved surface(4 down to its highest point is also inclined relative to the plane ofsurface I9 so as to tend to crowd coins traveling along it deeper intothe V-channel l3.

In Figs. 5 and 6, cross sections of incline M at its upper end orbeginning and at its-highest point, respectively, are shown. As theincline it rises and curves to the left, in Fig. 2, its inner edge alsorises above the floor of channel 4, forming a wall 10 approximatelyperpendicular to the plane of surface l9, said wall having the samecurvature in plan as the inner edge of in cline I l with the high pointof the wall about midway of the length of the curve and decreasing tozero in opposite directions from that point. Although this wall is notactually an uninterrupted continuation of the wall I 0 previouslyreferred to, it is in substance 3. continuation thereof beinginterrupted only for a short distance where it merges with incline l4,Fig. 11. Therefore, the same numeral 10 has been applied to it. Thecurve of wall 10 swings. graduoally outwardly from the V-channel l3 anddownwardly about the lower end of magnet l2 and the shortest distancefrom the seating point of a genuine nickel at the lower end of the V-than the diameter of a nickel, while the distance between the lower endof the V-channel I 3 and the wall III at a somewhat lower point isgreater than the diameter of a nickel. The purpose of this graduallyincreasing distance is to prevent slightly undersize coins that slip of!of wall I! from sticking between wall l0 and the magnet. Consequently,as a genuine nickel rolls downwardly with its edge in V-channel I, itwill follow along the base of upper wall I. until it reaches the upperend of incline M. It will then thereby, the slope of incline H causingthe coin to be fully seated in the V-channel ll.

As an illustration, assume that a nickel which has been rubbedexcessively thin is started through the machine. Its edge will dropfurther into V-channel l3 than a nickel of proper thickness andtherefore its opposite edge will slip off of the edge of incline ll anddrop down along wall l0. Its edge will engage the curved wall 10 whichwill deflect the thin nickel over the surface l9 into a refund opening20.-

It should be noted that the entire channel 4, including both branches ofthe elbow, is very steeply inclined so that the force of gravity willhave full effect. Likewise, the throat piece 2 is so disposed that thecoin will tend to rollsuccessively along and follow wall 5 and, if agenuine nickel, the inclined surface ll, while its opposite edge issupported and guided by the V- channel l3.

Preferably, the throat piece 2, down to a point just above the ends ofwalls 5 and 8 lies between two parallel planes and is adapted to beseated against and parallel with wall I. At about that point it isbodily deflected at a considerable angle, in the direction of itsthickness, so that, when assembled on wall I the deflected portion willdiverge, downwardly and inwardly, from the wall. Due to the rather sharpcurve at the elbow and the sharp drop from bore 3 to the edge of magnetl2, the coins might tip out of the throat at this point. To guardagainst this, the cap plate 9 extends to and slightly beyond the ends ofwalls 5 and 6 and may partially overlap that part of the magnet adjacentwall 6, so that, as the coin strikes the magnet and is deflected at asharp angle, the cap plate will overlie it and prevent its tipping out.This overlapping portion of cap plate 9 is deflected as at I 6, where itoverlies the elbow and magnet, to correspond with the deflection of thethroat piece and is notched out or cut away from that point toward thejunction between walls 5 and ID, as at edge IT, to permit free passageof the coin in its changed direction along the deflected portion of thethroat piece. It should be noted that the path of travel of the coinfrom bore 3 to the elbow of the throat piece is vertical, that there isno gliding or sliding, the weight of the coin being mostly on its edgeon wall 5; whereas, from the elbow to the end of the throat piece thepath of travel is an incline, and there is a gliding and sliding motion,the weight of the coin being mostly on its edges or on its face.

By inclining the channel 4 in this way it is possible to use gravity toremove or scavenge out a very considerable proportion of slugs and otherworthless objects in the first stages of coin selection, and to avoidimposing them upon subsequent testing or selecting devices. For thispurpose, the entire channel floor between shelf follow along incline H,with its edge supported l and the base of wall 5. and between bridge 8and a point adjacent the lower end of magnet' I2 is out out, gouged,depressed or dished. The dished portion 4' is made as an inclinebeginning with zero along the base of walls 6 and Ill and running tomaximum depth along shelf 1. For automatic gravity ejection from thisdeepened channel, the bottom of the deepened channel 4 is out completelythrough to provide a discharge outlet l8 acting as a scavenger throughwhich slugs and other waste may drop into a return channel 56. All coinsof diameter less than the distance between wall and shelf 1 will bescavenged through opening l8 and most of the pieces of irregular shapeor outline, but small enough to pass through bor 3. When coins or otherobjects drop on to the arcuate incline 4' leading to opening l8, theycannot contact the magnet and, therefore, cannot be held by it to clogthe selector. The scavenger, therefore, removes all objects ofappreciably deficient diameter and most of the irregularly shapedobjects, both magnetic and non-magnetic.

-Up to this point, the selector has eliminated objects of too greatdiameter, too great thickness, appreciable shortness of diameter, and alarge proportion of irregularly shaped objects.

It will be noticed that channel 4 extends considerably below the end ofmagnet l2 and the dished out portion, such extended portion l9 beingfiat, like the bridge 8 and in continuation of and merging with thesurface ll. Wall l0, interrupted by incline l4, extends downwardlyaround surface IS in somewhat of a crescent. The apex or deeper portionof this crescent-like curve of vwall I0 is at a greater distance fromthe lowerend of the V-channel l3 than is that portion of incline l4extending upwardly therefrom and slightly greater than the diameter of agenuine United States nickel. Likewise, the shortest distance betweenthe normal seating position of a standard nickel in V-channel l3 andwall III, at a point below the beginning of incline H is very slightlyless than the diameter of a standard nickel. Assume that a standardnickel starts along wall l0 toward the be inning of incline l4. Itsmomentum will carry it along the incline l4 above the perpendicular faceof wall l0 and onward to the weight detector, as will later appear.However, if the diameter is only very slightly less than standard, itwill follow the beginning of incline I 4 only part way Next magneticcoins are removed. A nickel of the currency of the Dominion of Canada,for instance, has substantially all of the dimensions, hardnesscharacteristics and weight of the U. S.

I nickel. Consequently, if it were not magnetic,

20. And, of course, other magnetic objects of similar dimensions wouldbe. similarly eliminated.

Coins of standard dimensions but of softer than standard material, dueto suchsoftness. create proportionately greater friction or drag, withcorrespondingly decreased momentum.

Because of decreased momentum, they follow the'arcuate incline l4 onlypart way and then drop down wall In to the surface I9 and follow oversurface along wall I9 to the discharge 20, thereby eliminating softerthan standard coins. Coins heavier than standard, whether or not ofstandard hardness, will have proportionately increased friction andretardation and be similarly eliminated. To increase the drag orfriction and consequent retardation, wall In may be serrated as at 22,so that, as the coin edge engages these serrations, there will beincreased friction, further retarding it and also tendin to cause it torotate. And, of course, such rotation still further increases thefrictional drag. Conse-, quently, coins of standard dimensions buteither more than standard weight or more than standard softness, willnot have suiiicient momentum to follow incline l4. They will drop to thesurface l9 and follow wall Ill to discharge opening 20. So, at thispoint, soft coins, thin coins, coins slightly under standard diameter,coins of greater than standard weight and magnetic coins, areeliminated.

At this point, it is advisable to go somewhat into detail as to thearcuate incline M. It will be noticed that it begins at the base of wallIn considerably in advance of the beginning of surface IS andconsiderably in advance of the beginning of the curve in the lower partof the wall l0. It slants upwardly along wall In around the curvebounding the surface of i9 and down to the plane of surface l9, just inadvance of the discharge 20. Its contour, disposition and function isgenerally similar to that of a. bank" around the outer edge a race trackor highway curve. As it follows wall l0, it tilts laterally, the tilt orslant decreasing steadily or steadily flattening out andmerging into surface l9, from start to finish. Likewise it steadily and regularlyincreases in width from start to finish. The highest point of the insideedge of the incline is, approximately, at the sharpest or most abruptpart of the curve of wall Ill bounding the surface l9. Upward from thishighestpoint it merges into the depressed floor l of the channel 4 anddownwardly from this point merges into the surface l9. Its lateral tiltis greatest or steepest at its upper end. It is also narrowest at itsupper end. It widens gradually to its lower end which takes the form ofa broad fiat chute 23, leading both to the discharge 2|! and to theupper end of a main coin runway. It is spirally disposed relatively tothe lower end of channel 4 and the lower end of magnet l2. Genuine U. S.nickels will slide along this runway, after leaving the arcuate inclinel4. They slide alon the flattened lower part of incline I4, face down,on the incline. Their momentum will carry them along the incline whichwill guide them to chute 23 which will guide full-weight coins into theupper end of the coin runway. As the coin approaches the chutepreliminary to entering the main runway, it encounters one end of a,small weighted lever' 24 pivotally mounted so that said end extendsswingingly into the path of the nickel. The lever weight is socalculated that its resistance will not deflect a nickel of .standardweight from the directly into the upper end of the oin-runway 25.However, any coin which is of less than standard weight, even veryslightly less, will be proportionately deflected toward the dischargeopening 20. A very slight deflection will carry its centre of gravitybeyond the ridge point 25, separating discharge 20 from the main coinrunway 25. The coin, so deflected, will drop on ridge point 25 with itscenter of gravity on the side toward the discharge and will, therefore,be guided into and 'through discharge 20. As will be clear, incline I4is grooved concentrically with the pivot of lever 24 to provide freetravel of the lever end, as it is engaged by the coins. The pivotedlever offers exactly the right resistance to a nickel or standardweight. Various other resistance devices may be used. For instance, aspring in place of the weight; or a sliding member either weighted orspring actuated. So, as the coin passes the lever 24, all light weightcoins are eliminated through disath leading,

. amply retain it as it rolls downwardly. At this charge 20. In theselector illustrated, the chute The particular angular relation may bevaried widely and almost without limit. The curvature or contour of thechute surface will be varied to correspond so that it will directfull-..

weight coins into the main coin runway 26 and light-weight coins beyondthe ridge-point 25.

A simple, practical and economical way to make the throat piece 2 is bycasting. The several surfaces (curved and fiat) walls, bridge,

bore, scavenger slot, chute, etc., may all be easily formed in one pieceand as one operation.

Then, the cap plate may be easily attached and the weighted lever andmagnet easily attached. It may, of course, be easily made in severalother ways.

Preferably, the runways through which the coins pass after leaving thechute, may be made by assembling two or more metal plates in spacedrelation, the spacers defining the respective paths and separating theplates sumciently to secure free non-binding travel of the nickel alongthe respective paths. For ease, speed, and economy of assembly, repair,adjustment and assembly, the plates and spacers may be bolted together.This assemblage may be easily and quickly bolted or otherwise removablyconnected to the throat piece in proper position to receive therefromthe coins.

Assume the runways and throat piece have been assembled in operativerelation, and a standard U. S. nickel, in currency, has passed the lever24. It will slide freely into the upper end of the main coin'runway 26defined by the spacing or filler blocks 2? between the parallel plates28 which constitute the side walls of the runway. Through the upper partof one side plate an ejection openpoint, the solid coins are separatedfrom the perforated coins by a very simple selector. Approximatelyconcentric with the longitudinal axis of 29, but on a considerablyshorter axis or radius, a swinging arm 32 is mounted on the oppositeplate. It is loosely pivoted to swing in a plane parallel to plate 28and to rock in a plane perpendicular thereto, such movements beingeither simultaneous or separate. On one end it carries an arc shaped bar33 of a length equal to the radius of a nickel. The free end of this baris offset to form a coin seat 34 while the opposite end, where it joins32, is provided with an ejector pin 35. Are bar 33 is concentric withthe pivot of the arm 32. Its e ector and coin seat project through andtravel in an arcuate slot 36. This slot, of course, is of the sameradius, as arm 32 and bar 33. Its upper end is at the approximatelongitudinal center of 29. Its lower end is appreciably nearer the lowerside of opening 29. So, as com seat 34 and pin 3: are moved downwardlyin slot 36, as will later appear, they move from the upper side towardthe lower side of opening 29. As they reach the extreme lower end ortheir travel, coin seat 34 is received by a notch 31 in spacing block21, so that it will be out of the path of travel of a coin rollingdownwardly along the edge of the spacing block. A tension spring 38,connected to plate 28 and arm 32 acts to maintain arm 32 with coin seat34 and pin 35 in the upper end of slot 36. Preferably, coin seat 34 isgrooved to receive and slide over the inner edge of slot 36. Thismaintains coin seat 34 at all times in the correct position relativelyto the coin runway to properly receive and support a coin. Since ejectorpin 35 is spaced from coin seat 34 a distance equal to the radius of anickel, its projection through slot 36 must be prevented until thenickel has passed beyond it and seated on 34.

For that purpose, that branch of pivot arm 32 to V which spring 38 isattached, is offset considerably from the supporting plate 28.Consequently, it pulls that end down toward the plate and rocks theopposite end away, drawing the ejector pin 35, back, out of slot 36.Coin seat 34, however, is held in its proper operative position byengagement with the edge of slot 38. Assume that a solid or imperforatenickel starts along the runway toward coin seat 34. As it engages 34 itwill draw arm 32 down, against the tension of spring 38. As it travelsdownward a stud, pin or other projection 39 on the back or outer side of33 where it joins 32, riding along an overhanging cam 40 graduallyprojects ejector pin 35 against the face of the nickel, forcing itoutwardly from seat 34. Since flange 3| overlaps part of the ing 23isprovided. In general outline it is ellip- 7o tical. Its lower end isconsiderably enlarged on one side of the longitudinal axis as at 30. Thewidth of this opening from the upper end to the beginning of theenlargement 3D is appreciably upper edge, and the lower edge is free,the lower edge will slip from its seat. This is timed to occur as thecoin approaches the enlarged lower portion of opening 29. The coin thensimply slides from the main runway through the enlargement 30, over thebeveled edge thereof and into less than the diameter of a nickel andthan the the upper endof the -pass runway 4|. Bevelling of this edge.removes all ist motion and assists in easy, smooth sliding 1fwthe coin.It is substantially a straight vertical downward drop,

with full gravity fall from seat 34 and enlarge! men't 30 into the upperend of El.

Assume now, that a slug or other object having the weight, dimensions,etc., of a nickel and having a central perforation or opening reachesseat 36. It will ride down with the seat but the pin 35 will not move itfrom its seat. It will not be rejected into the by-pass. The ejector pin35 will pass freely into the central opening. As the seat 3% approachesits lower limit it will also have moved laterally from near the centerof the runway to a point just beyond the lower end of the side of therunway nearestthe pivot of arm 32. As it reaches this position, it willpass into a small notch or recess in the spacing block so that it willnot present an obstruction to a coin travelling along the edge of theblock in the runway. Ejector pin35 must be withdrawn from theperforation, of course, before the coin can roll from its seat 34. Forthis purpose, a small cam 43 is mounted on plate 28 in the path of swingof 32. As soon as the ejector pin 35 has been projected, as aboveexplained, cam 43 begins its withdrawal, during the continued downwardtravel of 32, completing it before the seat reaches its lower limit, sothat the coin is free to follow the runway as soon as it rolls from seat3%. It will be clear, that in this downward swing, the seat 34, origi-As the coins pass through this air-gap, the magnetic ux will act uponthem and retard or slow them proportion to their electric conductivity.Each coin, as it leaves, the lower end of the runway 46 will follow adefinite curved path or trajectory in a free fall or flight, the pathsnally practically directly under the center of gravity of the nickel,gradually movesfar to one side so that the coin is free to roll off ofthe seat as the seat reaches its lower limit. As it does roll oif, theflange 3|, which has continually overlapped it, maintains it in therunway 26, through which it gravitates without further interruption, tothe slug outlet 42.

Returning, now, to the nickel which. has been ejected into the by-pass4|. This by-pass may be a simple narrow plate having an upper endslightly deflected outwardly and overlapping the lower enlarged portion36 and provided with a short peripheral rib or flange 44 defining theby-pass.

This by-pass, preferably, is either soldered or weldedto plate 28 in adownwardly inclined direction leading to and communicating with anopening 45 therethrough. Opening 45 communicates with the upper end of asecond short coin runway 46 between the two side plates 28. Both theedge of opening 45 and the edge of the flange 44 at the lower end ofby-pass 4| are suitably bevelled to provide easy, smooth, lateraltransfer movement of the nickel from by-pass 4| through opening 45 intorunway 46. It will be noticed that a coin travelling along'runway 46 hasre-- versed its direction, relatively to its travel through by-pass 4|.The reversal starts immediately following the transfer. the coin isbrought, momentarily, to a dead stop or rest on the incline at the upperend of runway 46. Therefore, all coins from the by-pass will have thesame starting speed as they leave the At the moment of transferdifiering according to the electric conductivity of the respective coin.Atthe bottom of this fall or flight is secured an anvil or rebound block38. Every standard nickel leaving the air-gap of the magnet will landsquarely, edge-on, on anvil $8 and will rebound in an upward curvetoward magnet 5?. In doing so, it will pass above the slug outlet 42,above barrier 49 and drop into and through a coin outlet 55. Barrier 59is simply a finger carried by a small bar or plate which is adjustablymounted on plate 28. In the present instance, this adjustable mountingis simply a slot in the bar and a tightening or clamping screw passedthrough the slot and turned into the plate. The finger of the barrier 89projects through a slot in one plate 28 and extends across the spacebetween the plates so that a standard nickel rebounding from anvil 48would have to rise above or hurdle itin order to drop into the coinoutlet. The rebound path depends both on the trajectory of the nickel inits flight from runway 46 and on the resilience of the metal of thenickel. If the electric conductivity of a coin inserted in the devicecorresponds to that of the standard nickel and the resulting trajectorysimilarly cor responds, but the coin does not have standard resilience,it will not rebound over the barrier and into the coin outlet,regardless of the fact that it might strike the anvil along the righttrajectory and at the right point on the anvil. So, inassembling,barrier 49 will be adjusted to the point where' nickels of standardconductivity and standard-resiliency, on rebounding from anvil 50, willjust clear the barrier.

Coins having greater conductivity than that of 'standard nickels andpassing through the air-gap between the poles of the magnet will beretarded proportionately more and will have trajectories correspondinglyshorter. All such coins are intercepted by a deflector bar 5| extendingacross the space between-plates 28. It projects through a slot in oneplate. It is carried on one end of one prong of a tuning fork 52, whichis adjustable on one of the plates '28 by means of screw and slotconnections similar to that of the barrier. The slot is so disposed, ofcourse, as to permit adjustment of the deflector 5| toward and from thetrajectory paths -of the coins. As such coins strike the deflector barthey will bounce forward and upward and flnally,land on anvil 48. Due toexcessive retardathn and subsequent deflection, they will strike theanvil at difierent points, difierent angles and with different forcesthan they would if they were standard nickels. In rebounding, therefore,they will not clear the barrier butwill pass out through the slug outlet42. In assembling, a number of standard nickels will be run through, theselector and the tuning fork 52 will be adjusted until the standardnickels just exactly clear or miss the bar 5|. This is easily determinedby the clear and definite ring of the fork every time bar 5| is struck,and failure to ring when missed.

Coins having less conductivity than that of standard nickels and passingthrough the airgap will be. retarded proportionately less and will havetrajectories correspondingly greater. All such coins are intercepted bya back-stop -53, similar to bar except that it is of consider,- ablygreater length. It, too, is carried on one prong of a tuning fork 54,mounted on one of the plates 28 by a screw. The back-stop, plate or' bar53 projects through a slot in plate 28 and is so proportioned as toextend upwardly approximately at right angles to the operative edge ofanvil 48. In assembling, it is disposed a short distance from the edgeof the anvil most remote from the slug outlet 42. Coins of deficientconductivity will strike the back-stop 53 and will either be deflecteddirectly into the slug outlet or on to the anvil and then into the slugoutlet. This tuning fork will, also, give an audible sound when theback-stop 53 is struck. In assembling, tuning fork 54 will bepreliminarily set in approximate position and a number of genuinenickels will be run through the selector. If the nickels do not strikethe backstop at first, the fork will be swung on its screw until nickelsdo strike. Then it will be backed off until nickels fail to strike. Atthat point it will be set or tightened.

It has been found in practice that coins striking either the deflectorbar 5| or the back-stop 53, even though they are not appreciablydeflected thereby and even though they may have the same resilience as agenuine nickel, have their ability to rebound reduced so that they arein effect trapped between the barrier 49 and the dicated by arrows, fullline arr ws showing the path of a genuine coin, while dotted arrows showpaths of rejections, for various defects.

There may be times, infrequent, however, when a coin that is veryslightly too large either in diameter or in thickness, becomes stuck inthe throat piece. To readily, easily and quickly remove such a notch 55is provided. This may be in the form of a groove in the inner wall ofbore 3 and extending radially and from the front through bridge 8, or itmay be as an arcuate notch eccentric to bore 3 and extending from thefront through the bridge 8. If a groove, the stuck coin may be removedby running a wire back through the groove and hooking the coin from therear. If a notch, the coin may be removed by engaging the ede with the.tip of a finger.

It is thought that the construction, opera- ,tion and use of theinvention will be clear from the preceding detailed description.

Many changes may be made in the construction, arrangement anddisposition of the various parts of the invention within the scope ofthe appended claims without in any way departing from the field of theinvention, and it is meant to include all such within this applicationwherein only one preferred construction and arrangement has beenillustrated by way of example and with no thought of limiting theinvention by such illustration.

Having thus described my invention, what I 7 slaim and desire to protectby Letters Patent 1. In combination in a coin selector, a coin entrancehaving a bore of the diameter of the respective genuine coin, apassageway leading therefrom having a. thickness equal to the thicknessof said coin, an elbow slightly curved laterally leading from saidpassageway to a coin channel, said channel being inclined laterally andalso inclined edgewise, the lowermost edge of said channel comprising aV-groove and the uppermost edge of said channel comprising acoin-supporting surface so inclined as to tend to crowd the coins intothe V-groove and to impart a somewhat spiral motion to the coins, saidcoin-supporting surface merging with an inclined surface below the lowerend of said V-groove, said coin channel having its lower plate cut awayto such a distance from the V-groove as to cause coins thinner orsmaller in diameter than genuine coins to slip of! the inner edge ofsaid coin-supporting surface and be ejected, said coin-supportingsurface being adapted to guide genuine coins into a deposit channel.

2. In combination in a coin selector, a coin entrance having a bore ofthe diameter of the respective genuine coin, a passageway leadingtherefrom having a thickness equal to the thickness of said coin, anelbow slightly curved laterally leading from said passageway to a coinchannel, said channel being inclined laterally and also inclinededgewise the lowermost edge of said channel comprising a V-groove andthe uppermost edge of said channel comprising a coin-supporting surfacewhich merges with an inclined surface below the lower end of saidV-groove, means to provide a fleld of magnetic flux at the lower end ofsaid v-groove, said coin channel having its lower plate cut away to sucha distance from the V-groove as to allow coins deflected by saidmagnetic fleld to slip off the inner edge of said coin-supportingsurface and be ejected, said supporting surface being adapted to guidegenuine coins into a deposit channel.

3. In combination in a coin selector, a coin entrance having a bore ofthe diameter of the respective genuine coin, a passageway leadingtherefrom having a thickness equal to the thickness of said coin, a coinchannel leading from said passageway in an inclined plane, said coinchannel being also inclined edgewise, the lowermost edge of said channelcomprising a V-groove and the uppermost edge of said channel comprisinga coin-supporting surface so inclined, relative to the plane of saidchannel, as to tend to crowd coins into said V-groove, saidcoinsupporting surface merging with an inclined surface below the lowerend of said V-groove, said coin channel having its lower plate cut awayto such a distance from the V-groove as to cause coins thinner orsmaller in diameter than genuine coins to slip oil the inner edge ofsaid coin-supporting surface and be ejected, said coin-supportingsurface being also adapted to guide genuine coins into a deposit outlet.

4. In combination in a coin selector, a coin entrance having a bore ofthe diameter of the respective genuine coin, a passageway leadingtherefrom having a thickness equal to the thickness of said coin, a coinchannel leading from said passageway in an inclined plane said coinchannel being also inclined edgewise, the lowermost edge of said channelcomprising a v-groove and the uppermost edge of said channel comprisinga coin-supporting surface which merges with an inclined surface belowthe end of said V-groove, means to provide a field of magnetic flux atthe lower end of said V-groove, said coin channel having its lower platecut away to such a distance from the V-groove as to allow coinsdeflected by the magnetic fleld to slip ed the inner edge of saidcoin-supporting surface and be ejected, said coin-supporting surfacebeing also adapted to guide genuine coins into a deposit channel. V

5. In combination in a coin selector, a coin entrance having a bore ofthe diameter of the resmctive genuine coin, a passageway leadingtherefrom having a thickness equal to the thickness of said coin, a coinchannel leading from said passageway in an inclined plane said coinchannel being also inclined edgewise, the lowermost edge of said channelcomprising a V-groove and the uppermost edge of said channel comprisinga coin-supporting surface which merges with an inclined surface belowthe lower end of said V-groove, aweighted lever extending into the coinchannel opposite to and below the lower end of said V-groove, said coinchannel havin its lower plate cut away to such a distance from theV-groove as to allow coins deflected by the weighted lever to a greaterextent than genuine coins to slip off the inner edge of saidcoinsupporting surface and be ejected, said coinsupporting surface beingadapted to guide genuine coins into the deposit channel.

6. In combination in a coin selector, a coin entrance having a bore ofthe diameter of the respective genuine coin, a passageway leadingtherefrom having a thickness equal to the thicknes of said coin, achannel leading from said passageway inclined both laterally andedgewise of which the lowermost edge is in the form of a V-groove aportion of the walls at the lower end of said V-groove being a permanentmagnet,

means opposite the lower end of said V-groove adapted to deflect into acoin return chute magnetic objects and objects thinner or smaller indiameter than a genuine coin said means serving also tq guide genuinecoins into a deposit outlet.

7. In combinationin a coin selector, a coin entrance having a bore ofthe diameter of the respective genuine coin, a passageway leadingtherefrom having a thickness equal to the thickness of said coin, achannel leading from said passageway inclined both laterally andedgewise of which the lowermost edge is in the form of a V-groove aportion of the walls at thelower end of said ii-groove being a permanentmagnet, a weighted lever extending into the coin channei on the oppositeside of the channel from. the

V-groove adapted to engage coins just after they leave the V-groovemeans opposite the lower end of said V-groove to deflect into acoin-return chute magnetic objects, objects thinner or smaller indiameter than a genuine coin and objects of lesser weight than a genuinecoin said means serving also to guide genuine coins into a depositoutlet.

8. In combination in a coin selector, a coin entrance having the bore ofthe diameter of the respective genuine coin, an edgewise inclinedpassageway leading therefrom in a substantially vertical plane saidpassageway having a thickness equal to the thickness of said coin, anelbow slightly curvedtlateraliy leading from said passageway to a coinchannel, said coin channel being inclined rearwardly and also inclinededgewise in the opposite direction to the edgewise incline of saidpassageway, the edge of said coin channel below the short side oftheelbow merging into a surface that is approximately in the plane of theinclined coin channel, the floor of said elbow and of said inclined coinchannel being partially cut away leaving a narrow ledge EDWARD G.WEILER.

